Ryan Talonovich is the star of his college hockey team, until an accident during practice leaves him confined to a wheelchair. The doctors say he'll walk again but a new season is already underway and he's been replaced on the team, which leaves him feeling alone and betrayed. What's the use of fighting to get back on the ice now?<br><br>Then he meets Dante Espinosa, a short track skater on the city's speed skating club. Though he has to work overtime to afford his sport, Dante is hell on ice, and dreams of making the cut on the U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team.<br><br>Their love of the ice brings them together, but too many obstacles stand in their way: Ryan's struggle with therapy. The memory of Dante's first boyfriend. Lack of funding to the event, Dante's harassing boss, a skating friend in love with him, and Wil Dietrich, who will do anything to win.

Power Play

“Woo,” Ryan replies. He dials a number and puts the phone to his ear. “You take my breath away,” he admits.


When Dante laughs, Ryan turns his attention to the phone. “Hey Mom! No, not you.”


“Tell her I said hi,” Dante whispers, easing Ryan’s chair through the turnstile and passed the ticket booth. The girl behind the counter waves at them, a few kids call out Dante’s name—everywhere he looks, someone’s smiling or waving, congratulating him, telling him how great he was out there. His own grin grows strained, his whole body begging to be left alone.


In the chair in front of him, Ryan tells his mother that they’re finished here. “He won the five hundred,” he’s saying, smiling up at Dante. He must see something in his face, exhaustion or weariness, because he reaches back and pats Dante’s hand where it grips the handlebar. “Yeah, we’re ready.”


At the glass doors leading outside, Dante stops the wheelchair and hits the automatic release button nearby. “Tell her—” he starts.


Chapter 54